I have a chance to trade my house for a 2000 Wanderlodge, and trying to find out more about them. It has a Cummings 450 hp engine in it. Is this a good engine? Any info on these things would be very helpful

In my book a Wanderlodge is a converted Bluebird bus, just converted by Bluebird before it's sold, not by a converter who buys a shell. As I understand it, Wanderlodges started out as converted school buses and by 1998 they were based on transit buses, pusher engines, slides, three axles, etc. Always considered high end, and the last generation pretty comparable to a Prevost based conversion. Wanderlodges started my interest in converted buses, I am drawn to the earlier ones like a bug to a light...

I was originally looking at Gm 4104's and 4106's but am wondering if the Wanderlodge is a better unit? Of coures The wanderlodge is a 2000 for 89,000( trade for my house ) and has a 450 hp, and the old Gm's are between 6,000 and 30,000 and have the Detroit diesel. Guess I can go up the hills a little faster.....

Another serious consideration would be depreciation of each over a sort time period,, the property is probably going to appreciate as the market turns around,, the Wonderinglodge won't at any time in the future, today is the most its going to be worth.>>>Dan

Just like Bevins6, I liked the Birds before I knew what a bus conversion was. Still like them even though I know very little about them. I have nothing to base what I am about to say on, but I think that is a deal I wouldn't do. Utahclaimjumper has made a good point with the direction of values. I would sell the house, buy a conversion that has already depreciated, and pocket/invest the rest. You can buy some nice conversions for less than the stated value of your house. Hiyosilver is selling his professionally built MCI 9 (Custom Coach? Advertised in BCM mag.). I think he is asking ~$35K. I saw where Ace has his Prevost H3-40 on ebay: Ace's conversion. I have seen it, and it ranks up there with the better high end stuff. I am very biased to the GM 4104 and 4106 buses. They will outlive any of the newer conversions, They already have over 50 years behind them and look how many are still out there and in better shape than some of the new stuff.

« Last Edit: June 07, 2013, 06:59:29 PM by Barn Owl »

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L. Christley - W3EYE Amateur ExtraBlue Ridge Mountains, S.W. VirginiaItís the education gained, and the ability to apply, and share, what we learn.Have fun, be great, that way you have Great Fun!

Crazy subject, I agree with Barn Owl on all, and for me, the 4104 is still I think the tuffest of all buses, agree, when all this new stuff if in the junk yard, there will still be 4104's roaming around cheerfully, yes smoking a little, dripping very little oil, everyone will be making fun of them, but there they go.Years ago, I felt the older origional Blue Bird was the end of all RV setups, well in the past 40 years I have gotten a little educated and no longer have any desire for the B-B bus RV, expecially the ones the the V-8 Cummins, V-504 & V-555, they are real near junk when new. (my opinion).But trading the home for an old B-B makes me shudder.But Good luckDave M

That coach is built on the LTC chassis the City of Houston just sold off some 2002 45 foot models some with low mileage brought over a hundred grand for a seated coach they were headed to South America

I have a buddy in Houston that sold his H-41 and bought one a couple years ago he loves it they sure ride nice but I would go for one with the C-13 Cat not the Cummins

Wanderlodges are now sticks&staples RVs. They are no longer built on the All American schoolbus chassis. They are what I call faux buses. Read up on the Wanderlodges. They have a timeline that says when it changed. Wanderlodges stopped looking good around 1985. Now they look like all the other RVs.

Blue Birds are not S&S where did that come I had a unfinished BB that came from the factory when it closed we removed the C-13 Cat engine and transmission it had plenty of iron and very well built with the LTC chassis made by Blue Bird

Some Bluebird models were built on Spartan chassis, also used by other "S&S" coach builders, between 1994 and 1997. After 1998 they reverted to Bluebird built chassis again, according to the interweb at least.

Brian, did bluebird use wood construction during that time period? I remember that in the school bus days, the wanderlodges entry door was located midship, bluebird conversion were at the passenger doors, and by the way harleyman, you should always get the bus blue book, lvmci...

I believe the Spartan chassis was used for a lower end Bluebird, not the Wanderlodge. I personally like them. They seem to be well made and have good support resources. I almost bought a 96 model that had a Series 60 in it, but my 5a is more than adequate for my uses now. I don't know about the value of the one you are looking at and whether it is worth your house though. Most people's homes are worth much more than their vehicles.